U.S. patent application number 11/858698 was filed with the patent office on 2008-09-04 for fuze for a projectile.
This patent application is currently assigned to JUNGHANS MICROTEC GMBH. Invention is credited to Johann Pannhorst, Alexander Zinell.
Application Number | 20080210115 11/858698 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38856707 |
Filed Date | 2008-09-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080210115 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Zinell; Alexander ; et
al. |
September 4, 2008 |
Fuze for a Projectile
Abstract
A fuze (10) for a projectile, in particular for a spin-free
projectile, having a first and a second arming criterion for the
safety and arming unit (14) for the fuze (10), with the first
arming criterion using the launch acceleration of the projectile
(12) or of the fuze (10). The fuze (10) has pressure and/or
temperature sensors (20) arranged at a distance from one another in
order to measure the pressure and/or temperature difference during
the Right phase of the projectile (12), with the respective
difference measured value being compared by means of a comparator
(24) with a predetermined threshold value (26), and with a
corresponding comparison signal (28) forming the second arming
criterion for the safety and arming unit (14) of the fuze (10).
Inventors: |
Zinell; Alexander;
(Aichhalden, DE) ; Pannhorst; Johann; (Dunningen,
DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SCULLY SCOTT MURPHY & PRESSER, PC
400 GARDEN CITY PLAZA, SUITE 300
GARDEN CITY
NY
11530
US
|
Assignee: |
JUNGHANS MICROTEC GMBH
Dunningen-Seedorf
DE
|
Family ID: |
38856707 |
Appl. No.: |
11/858698 |
Filed: |
September 20, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
102/216 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F42C 15/005 20130101;
F42C 15/40 20130101; F42C 15/29 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
102/216 |
International
Class: |
F42C 15/24 20060101
F42C015/24 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 7, 2006 |
DE |
102006047549.6 |
Claims
1. A fuze for a spin-free projectile, said fuze comprising a first
and a second arming criterion for a safety and arming unit (14) of
the fuze, said first arming criterion utilizing the launch
acceleration of the fuze (10), the faze (10) including pressure
and/or temperature sensors (20) arranged at a distance from one
another for measuring the pressure and/or temperature difference; a
comparator (24) for comparing the respective difference measured
value with a predetermined threshold value (26), and a
corresponding comparison signal (28) from the comparator forming
the second arming criterion for the safety and arming unit (14) for
the fuze (10) of the projectile (12).
2. A faze according to claim 1, wherein at least one said sensor
(20) is provided at the fuze tip (22), and a plurality of sensors
(20) are arranged axially spaced at a distance from the fuze tip
(22) along a circumference of the fuze (10).
3. A fuze according to claim 2, wherein the sensors (20) are
arranged at uniform intervals about the circumference of the fuze
(10).
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The invention relates to a fuze for a projectile, in
particular for a non-spinning or spin-free projectile, which
possesses a first and a second arming criterion for its safety and
arming unit, with the first arming criterion using the launch
acceleration of the fuze.
[0003] 2. Discussion of the Prior Art
[0004] In the case of projectiles that do not spin, such as mortars
or the like, the launch acceleration is used as a first arming
criterion. A safety break, for example, such as a pin or cotter, or
latching device, is used as a second arming criterion, which must
be withdrawn before the projectile is launched. A safety break,
i.e., a safety pin, cotter, or latching device, such as this has
the serious defect that the fuze of the projectile has only one
safety feature once the safety break has been withdrawn, and
nevertheless still has to be handled. This results in an increased
risk to the operator. Furthermore, safety breaks such as these are
not suitable for automatic weapons or launch systems.
[0005] Another possibility until now has been to use a wind-driven
impeller or a turbine wheel, for example, as the second arming
criterion, which is mounted in the fuze and senses the airflow
after launch. For this purpose, the incident flow must strike the
wind-driven impeller or turbine wheel via a channel which has an
inlet and an outlet. This channel as well as the mounting for the
wind-driven impeller or turbine wheel are sensitive to dirt and to
icing, and are therefore unsuitable for use, for example, in sandy
or dusty operating conditions and environments.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] Against the background of these circumstances, the invention
is based on the object of providing a fuze for a projectile, in
particular for a projectile that does not spin, having a second
arming criterion without any continuous channel being provided for
the safety and arming unit, and with automatic arming being
possible by simple means.
[0007] According to the invention, this object is achieved by the
provision of a novel pressure/temperature sensor arrangement
facilitating implementing a second arming criterion, as described
hereinbelow. Preferred embodiments and developments of the
invention are set forth in the dependent claims.
[0008] According to the invention, pressure sensors and/or
temperature sensors are preferably fitted at the fuze tip and on
the fuze circumference, which are suitable for carrying out a
pressure-difference measurement and/or a temperature-difference
measurement when air flows on them during the flight phase of a
projectile, and for unambiguously detecting the respective flight
phase of the projectile, as a function of a predetermined threshold
value. A corresponding comparison signal between the predetermined
threshold value and the pressure and/or temperature difference
measurement signal forms the second arming criterion for the fuze
according to the invention. This signal is therefore used as the
second arming criterion, and leads to automatic arming of the fuze
according to the invention.
[0009] The advantages achieved by the invention are that the safety
for the user and the reliability are considerably improved, because
the fuze is armed automatically, and because there are no openings
into the interior of the fuze.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0010] Further details, features and advantages will become evident
from the following description of one exemplary embodiment, which
is illustrated schematically in the single figure of drawing, of a
fuze, which is shown in the form of a section view, of a
projectile, in particular of a spin-free projectile.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0011] The figure illustrates a fuze 10 for a projectile 12. The
faze 10 has a safety and arming unit 14 with a first and a second
arming criterion. The first arming criterion uses the launch
acceleration of the projectile 12. An acceleration sensor 16, which
is operatively connected to the safety and arming unit 14, is used
to detect the launch acceleration. This operative connection is
indicated by the bent arrow 18.
[0012] The fuze 10 has sensors 20 at a distance from one another.
One sensor 20 is provided at the faze tip 22, and further sensors
20 are arranged at a distance from it, at equal intervals from one
another along the circumference of the fuze 10. The sensors 20 are
pressure sensors and/or temperature sensors. The pressure sensors
20 are suitable for measuring the pressure difference in accordance
with Bernoulli's Law, and/or the temperature sensors are suitable
for measuring the temperature difference when an incident airflow
strikes the fuze 10, during the flight phase of the projectile, and
for unambiguously detecting the flight phase of the projectile 12
as a function of a predetermined threshold value. For this purpose,
the measurement signals produced by the sensors 20 are compared in
a comparator 24 with the said threshold value. The threshold value
is indicated by the arrow 26. The operative connection between the
sensors 20 and the comparator 24 is represented by the bent arrow
lines 28.
[0013] Once the flight phase of the projectile 12 has been
unambiguously detected with the aid of the sensors 20, then the
corresponding comparison signal forms the second arming criterion
for the safety and arming unit 14 for the faze 10. This comparison
signal is indicated by the arrow 30.
LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS
[0014] 10 Fuze (for 12)
[0015] 12 Projectile
[0016] 14 Safety and arming unit (of 10)
[0017] 16 Acceleration sensor (of 10 for 14)
[0018] 18 Arrow/operative connection/first arming criterion (for
14)
[0019] 20 Sensors (of 10)
[0020] 22 Fuze tip (of 10)
[0021] 24 Comparator (of 10 for 20)
[0022] 26 Threshold value (for 24)
[0023] 28 Arrow/operative connection (between 20 and 24)
[0024] 30 Arrow/comparison signal/second arming criterion (for
14)
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